Vice President Doan meets senior French officials on ties

Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan, in Paris for the 24th Global Summit
of Women (GSW), met with President of the French Senate Jean-Pierre Bel
and Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius in Paris on June 4.

During
the meetings, the two sides shared the wish for closer cooperation
between the two countries in the fields of energy, trade,
science-technology, national defence-security, education, health care,
tourism and climate change.

On the occasion, Vice President
Doan informed the French side on the ongoing tension in the East Sea and
affirmed that Vietnam will pursue the consistent policy of settling
disputes via peaceful dialogue in line with international law, including
the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the
Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea between ASEAN and
China, rather than using force or threatening to use force.

She also thanked the French government, the France – Vietnam Friendship
Parliamentarians’ Group and many French organisations for supporting
Vietnam’s stance on this issue.

The French Senate President
and many senators expressed concerned about the escalating tensions on
the East Sea and voiced their hope that parties concerned will soon
reach a peaceful solution via talks. They pledged that the French Senate
will continue to raise a strong voice in this regard.

Foreign
Minister Laurent Fabius agreed with Doan’s proposal to intensify joint
efforts to implement the University of Science and Technology project in
Hanoi.

He also invited the Vietnamese side to attend the
21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change that France will host
by late 2015.

The FM stressed that the two countries should
increase talks on issues of mutual concern, adding that France is
keeping close watch of the East Sea tension. France is concerned about
the situation, he said, adding that the country will make efforts to
together with Vietnam push for a peaceful solution for the East Sea
issue in conformity to international law.

Vice President Doan
is scheduled to attend and deliver a speech at the summit opening and a
follow-up press conference on June 5.

The summit brings
together delegates representing the three critical ‘legs’ of change –
government, business and civil society – to assist in promoting greater
economic opportunities for women.-VNA